Secret comic book movies: The Amazing Spider-Man TV pilot (1977)
By Mike McNulty
“He’s got a better act than you.”
As you might have already guessed, this pilot TV movie is a definite mixed bag. Yet in terms of its acting, it’s not as bad as you might think. And as I watched Nicholas Hammond’s performance, I was struck by three things: 1. He’s a dead-ringer for Fox News Commentator Tucker Carlson; 2. He definitely rocks those bell-bottom jeans and wide-collar shirts; and 3. This is the nicest, most humble version of Peter Parker I have ever seen.
He’s still a definite nerd like Peter, complete with nervous stammering and playing the dutiful nephew to his Aunt May (Jeff Donnell). But unlike Tobey Maguire, not once does Hammond ever come across as a caricature of a nerd. Whenever he stammers his way through an awkward situation, or pulls a “Who, me?” routine, he comes across as being sincere. He’s also the one cinematic version most burdened by the “Parker Luck.”
He suffers an allergy for half of the running time, breaks his camera, and even has to bum money from his would-be date. There’s even a point where, after dislocating his arm as Spider-Man, he’s forced to hitch a ride in a garbage truck because he can’t get a taxi. The only thing he doesn’t do as Spidey is make any wisecracks.
[Nicholas Hammond is] still a definite nerd like Peter [Parker], complete with nervous stammering and playing the dutiful nephew to his Aunt May…But unlike Tobey Maguire, not once does [he] ever come across as a caricature of a nerd.
The remainder of the cast is also decent. David White of Bewitched (1964-1972) fame doesn’t embody Jonah like J.K. Simmons, but he does embody Peter’s disagreeable boss with his signature tightwad irascibility and double-standards. What’s odd, however, is that Michael Pataki’s Captain Barbera of the NYPD behaves more like Jonah than White does, complete with him angrily chomping a cigar while giving Peter nothing but grief. The result is that Pataki comes off as amalgamation of every “angry police chief” and “clueless detective” stereotype you’ve seen in dozens of other cop shows.
Spider-Man fans may also be shocked to see a younger version of Robbie Robertson (Hilly Hicks) not as the Daily Bugle’s editor but as one of its top reporters. Also, don’t expect one of Peter’s more notable girlfriends; instead, his would-be love interest is one Judy Tyler (Lisa Eilbacher), the daughter of one of Peter’s college professors (Ivor Francis) who’s one of Byron’s brainwashing victims. Despite this, she actually thinks Byron gives “good advice” and, wouldn’t you know it, also ends up getting hypnotized, too. Because the plot said so, of course.
Speaking of Byron, David Thayer is a prime example of a veteran character actor miscast for a particular part. While the pilot initially keeps his face hidden, the moment Byron appears, he gives off instant bad guy vibes. Based on Thayer’s acting, Byron comes across more like a corrupt union boss than someone who preaches on the power of positive thinking. That he has two hoods in his payroll – including the future Uncle Leo from Seinfeld, Len Lesser – just further punctuates his mob-boss persona. Had they gone with a different actor who radiated more charm that you’d expect a guru to have, it might have worked.